AI Agent Gateway Deadlock On Docker Desktop Bind Mounts
When an AI coding agent runs inside Docker Desktop on Windows, a bind-mounted config directory can make the gateway look ready while HTTP, WebSocket, plugin startup, or Docker calls hang behind permissions, lock files, or a frozen Docker backend.
Separate bind-mount permission drift, stale runtime locks, Docker daemon timeouts, and real dispatcher deadlocks before telling users to reset state.
The safest first response is a read-only evidence bundle plus bounded probes. It protects sessions, plugin state, local workspaces, and Docker volumes while still giving maintainers actionable logs.
docker info >/dev/null; docker compose ps; docker compose logs --tail=200; docker exec <container> sh -lc 'id; ls -ld $HOME $HOME/.openclaw 2>/dev/null; find $HOME/.openclaw -maxdepth 3 -name "*lock*" -print 2>/dev/null | head -40'
Send the gateway symptom and one log snippet.
We will reply with the next safe diagnostic step: no remote access, no file contents, no broad delete advice.
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The $99 pilot turns one representative gateway or Docker Desktop incident into a safe/review/do-not-touch policy your team can reuse in docs and support replies.
Common Failure Buckets
- Bind-mount permission drift: the config root or generated files are owned by root while the gateway runs as an app user.
- Stale runtime locks: plugin dependency installs, mirrors, package managers, or session locks survive a failed startup.
- Docker daemon timeout: Docker Desktop accepts a client call but the daemon, WSL2 backend, or storage layer never answers.
- Dispatcher deadlock: the process is alive and listening, but HTTP/WS handlers never complete and connections pile up.
- Storage pressure: Docker VM disk, Windows host free space, logs, or agent session files fill the path used by the bind mount.
Read-Only Evidence Order
- Bound every external call with a timeout: Docker, compose, git, package managers, plugin installers, and health probes.
- Capture process state, recent logs, TCP socket state, and the exact command that hangs.
- Check ownership and mode on the bind-mount root, config file, workspace mount, plugin runtime directory, and lock directories.
- Measure host and Docker storage before pruning or resetting anything.
- Only remove stale lock directories after the owning process is stopped and the lock path is known to be rebuildable.
User-Facing Recovery Copy
A good error message should say which probe timed out, what evidence to collect, and which local state is at risk. Avoid one-line guidance like "reset Docker Desktop" or "delete the config folder" when sessions, plugin state, credentials, workspaces, or named volumes may be involved.
Turn the incident into a policy
SafeDisk can package one AI agent Docker incident into a short safe/review/reset policy for maintainers, docs, and onboarding.